Thursday, December 16, 2010

I created these Lavender Sachets as Christmas presents for a few sweet friends and at the same time I made sure I had enough to give away as donations to raise money for Sherbrooke Home...the place where we have our bi-monthy Rug Hooking meetings. This was a fun project so I thought I would share it with you.

1. Print out your favorite images onto photo fabric... I use the postcard sized template which allowed me to print two photos on one fabric sheet.

2. Pick a fabric backing for your sachet... I used a bird themed complementary colored fabric. With right sides together sew the two pieces of fabric together...don't forget to leave an opening in the top to pour your Lavender buds into. Cut out sachet leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

3. Turn sachet right side out & press with your iron.

4. Measure out your Lavender...using a paper cone I poured about 1.5 ounces of lavender into each sachet.

5. Hand stitch top opening closed.

6. I used clear cellophane bags to wrap my sachets. Twisting both ends & then tying them off with decorative fabric ribbon.

7. Last but not least I went into Publisher & printed out some MADE ESPECIALLY FOR YOU BY SUSAN tags which I printed out on Sticker label paper...cut them out with decorative edge scissors & apply them to the front of the sachet packaging.

8. Make sure you nibble on some of those Christmas cookies while you work...

You can visit the Graphics Fairy for these bird inspired images...thank-you Graphics Fairy!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

I was in Facebook yesterday...I don't go in there very much as I spend wayyyy to much time on this computer as it is. While in Facebook I upgraded to the new format. After doing this I checked out the folks who wanted to become my friends...in Facebook.

WHO THE HECK ARE THESE PEOPLE??? Manuel from Venezuela? Miss Pea from Poland? Gosh darn-it...hows a gal supposed to be friends with all these folks...? Anyways...I came to the decision that I wanted to simplify & I want to applogize in advance...if I edited you from my Facebook.
Remember, its not you...just me trying to get a handle on the details that make up my life...trying to keep my sanity.

. S . I . M . P . L . I . F . Y .

I decided my Facebook is going to be a place to meet & greet my family, relatives & my very closest friends.

Monday, November 29, 2010

I am having a Cry Baby no sale Monday...instead of a Cyber Monday Sale which is taking place today after the Big Sunday Christmas Sale which took place after the even bigger Saturday Big Blockbuster Christmas sale which was directly after the Humongous Black Friday Sale...........I am saled out, & am feeling instead....discontent, malcontent & just plain miserable...there...I said it.

. M. I . S. E. R . A . B . L . E.

. G . R . U . M . P . Y .

...just plain blaaaaa...

. s . o . r . r . y .

i can't help myself

The sale of our home didn't happen

So now I have to endure more cleaning, more open houses, more disruption, more waiting.

. I . A . M . F . E . D . U . P .

. P . E . R . I . O . D .

The folks from the states who so excitably said that they wanted to buy our house & everything in it have decided to wait till the new year...bah humbug!!!

What a let down...I was so excited & as usual I became too hopeful...now I am in the doldrums sitting in my studio & feeling just plain uninspired...trying to get things done...but instead I feel like I am just spinning my wheels and not making any progress. So I thought I would come in here & whine. I have to say it does help as there are an awful lot of online shoulders to cry on...right my friends?

Anyways...sorry to blunt your Christmas spirit with my griping...but unloading this junk will help me get back to business. I won't be listing anything on TDIPT December 1st because I have been so preoccupied with this dang house *#*%$!#*....opps...sorry!

I am however trying my bestest to become un-GRINCH like & I hope to have a new outlook & new creations for a New Year...am thinking of taking a wee break to do some Personal stuff, Christmas Stuff, Happy Stuff...just for me & my family.

I am sorry to have not replied to all of your comments the last few posts...being a grumpy bear, I just didn't have the gumption to put my mind to replying...I do love you all & I appreciate every one of you shining stars...

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

May your day be cozy & warm & filled with the company of family & friends.

Thanks to everyone who sent me notes of care & concern while I was down with this nasty flu bug...hearing from all of you made my days brighter...the worst is over thank goodness & I am getting back into my creative groove & into the Christmas Spirit.

Notes & News

The PFATT artist`s group is having a Giveaway starting December 1st & ends with names being drawn shortly after December 7th.

Go to the PFATT Blog December 1st to look at all the wonderful pieces that have been donated for this occasion.

Last but not least I have given you a visual treat below...this clip has been circulating around our groups & I just had to share it with you...HUSBANDS BEWARE!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Hello my friends...sorry I have been missing in action...lots happening on my home-front right now. As I have posted about before, we are in the middle of trying to sell our apartment so we can move back to the west coast of Canada...the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia to be exact. Anyways...we had a couple come through from another country earlier this week who not only fell in love with our place but who also decided that they want to purchase every stick of furniture, all of my nick naks, old books, benches, beds, bedding...EVERYTHING I have collected over the years...said they would be content if we just gave them the keys & walked out...even my studio wasn't off limits to their desires. Well we were both a little dumbfounded by this news...we have been struggling to sell our place for almost a year now & then THIS HAPPENS. Caught us off guard & was a little shocking to say the least. Soooo we spent yesterday making a list of things we could part with & things we couldn't...I know it's just stuff...but you don't know how much it means to you until you have to give it all away. It has become a Buddhist lesson in what its takes to let go of everything............I don't think I would make a good Buddhist....couldn't do it...had to keep a few things & hopefully this won't put a halt to the sale of our apartment. I wish it could have been simpler, but I believe it will become a bit drawn out. Such is life & at this juncture I will just be content to move out & get on with our life...so please send us some good vibes that all will go smoothly & that we will be moved out by the new year.

On the other hand I obviously haven't been able to get any work done in my studio...my pieces sit in suspended animation till all this home sale business is complete...so I don't know what or if I will have any pieces available on TDIPT December 1st. I will keep you posted & hopefully things will have settled down enough for me to get back to work. Plus I am full of stitches from having a number of freckles & moles removed...& it is just to uncomfortable to sit on my studio chair for long periods of time if you know what I mean...

Till then I hope everyone in getting in the Christmas spirit & I want to thank everyone for all the kind comments you left on my previous post....much appreciated!!!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Hello my Ghoulish Fiends...I mean friends...thought I would show you what I do when I am not busy making wee fuzzies. One of my favorite activities is sit quietly in the morning...coffee by my side, hook in hand, my rug set up in front of me. This is my magic hour, especially on those cold days when the wind & snow go howling past my window & I can sit cozy & warm and hook for an hour.

Spring, summer, sunshine & warm days have come & gone...once the weather changes & the leaves have fallen to the ground...this is my time to hunker down & begin my winter projects.

I started this piece at rug camp this year and am now in the process of figuring out how I want to finish the edges. I would like to do a braided border...probably about three rows...I think this would be a really nice look for this rug. I haven't attempted to do any rug braiding yet but am sure I can learn from my girlfriends book & DVD on this subject. The strips for this rug were all cut by hand with a rotary cutter on a mat...I used all sorts of different widths of cuts...never measuring but just incorporating what I thought would look best. I love the look of strips cut this way...to my eyes it gives the rug instant age and a bit of character. Primitive Folk Art style rugs are my passion & I don't think I would be happy hooking anything else. This rug was designed by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm...I adore her patterns & am actually in the process of completing one of her Christmas rugs. You can purchase this Bittersweet Pumpkin pattern from Spruce Ridge Studios.

Almost forgot...you are welcome to visit the TDIPT Blog...there is a new posting about our November Open House & the special Give-Away we are hosting.
Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, October 4, 2010

At our annual Hooking Retreat this year we put on a show of the Grain Elevator Rugs that will be touring Saskatchewan for the next three years...the first Gallery show will take place at the Regina Legislature Building.

As we know our Grain Elevators are becoming a scarce fixture on the prairies because of neglect, fire or just being torn down to make room for the new concrete grain silos of the future. It is so heartbreaking to see such an important part of our farming history turn to dust...so it was decided that in memory of these landmarks we would put out a call to folks across Canada to hook a Grain Elevator Rug. Below you will find a small sampling of the rugs created for this show...I apologize for not listing the creator's name...I was madly dashing about trying to take pics before the hoards of hookers came to view them. If you would like to find out more about this traveling exhibit please go to our blog where you will be able to find a link to our group & any information you may need.

I hope you enjoyed looking at the rugs...so much attention to detail...the amount of work put into each rug, the color planning, dying, cutting etc. it just overwhelms me when I think about it...& if you aren't a hooker...while...just enjoy them for what they are...incredible rugs that will serve as reminders of days gone by.

All three of these Halloween pieces will be available for adoption the evening of September 30th on my TDIPT Mercantile page. You will find more details about them that night...hope to see you there & have a ghoulish day! Susan

Saturday, September 25, 2010

I went to the Chiropractor yesterday to get the kinks worked out of my achy body from rug hooking all week...told him I had spent a lot of hours hookin & a strippin...strippin & a hookin...he replied, "Is the leader of your group a pimp?" I laughed a good belly laugh & said no, we are traditional rug hookers who strip wool fabric which is then hooked into a linen or burlap fabric base which is stretched over a frame...we create rugs much like the ones our pioneer ancestors made years ago. He surprised me by saying that he remembered hooking a sailboat rug as a child...his eyes grew distant & he recounted that it was his grandmother who taught him to hook. I was flabbergasted...as it is so rare to hear these stories from men. I promptly asked him is he would like to join our rug hooking group....he said he would think about it...

Our Rug Camp celebrated it's 10th anniversary this year...it was so heart warming to see women who had been to every camp during the last decade...& such a pleasure to hear them reminisce about the classes they took, teachers they've had....memories made. Some instructors have come & gone now, but I am happy to say that five student teachers graduated this year...teachers who will follow in the footsteps of the ones who have gone before them...

This year rug camp was held at Cedar Lodge which sits on the edge of Blackstrap Lake about 40 minutes from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I have to say that the staff at Cedar Lodge spoiled us rotton...I am sure we all gained 5 lbs from all the home-cooked meals...never mind the scrumptious deserts that we ate after almost every meal. Truly a place that warmed your heart...as well as your tummy!!!

Fall was in the air & I did manage to get outside to take a few photos of all the autumn splendor...frost was in evidence on the surface of tiny leaves & lichens...

Canada Geese making their annual migration across our skies...their honking & bleating could be heard miles away...flying in formation...the flap of their wings brushed the air as they drifted past me.

Harvest fields, hay bales & autumn leaves surrounded the lake...

A Saskatchewan Sunrise

Tangled Thicket

A U T U M N C O L O R

Cabin in the woods

Chopped wood for the old stove

W A T E R C O L O R

S O F T

In a couple of days I will post part two...I will tell you all about our Touring Grain Elevator Project; show you photos of our Rug Show as well as some class pics.

I do apologize...I was so busy snapping photos at the rug show that I forgot to write down the names of the rug's creators. This is just one of the many Grain Elevator rug photos that I will post later on...till then...Susan.

Susan Pilotto is a mixed-media artist who specializes in creating one of a kind miniature animals from recycled wool felt fabric. Susan graduated from Vancouver's Capilano College with a Diploma in Studio Art.